The long-simmering border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia erupted into high-intensity military combat across July and December 2025, drawing the Royal Thai Air Force into a major combat deployment for the first time since World War II, thediplomat.com reported.
The hostilities escalated sharply on July 24, 2025, after cross-border BM-21 rocket fire from Cambodia killed at least 11 Thai civilians and one soldier. In response, the Thai military initiated Operation Yuttha Bodin, a coordinated air and land offensive designed to protect Thai sovereignty, push back Royal Cambodian Army positions, and degrade enemy military capabilities.
🇹🇭 One Gripen C was seen with seven precision bombing mission markings. The Royal Thai Air Force employed several Gripen C and D aircraft during combat operations last year. pic.twitter.com/3iv3SbmPTS
RTAF Launches Air Strikes Near Ta Moan Thom
Operating under a joint tactical plan commanded by Army Commander General Pana Klaewplodthuk, the RTAF flew direct support missions for the Royal Thai Army in the border region adjacent to Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province. On the opening day of the offensive, the air force launched two missions totaling 10 strike sorties targeting Cambodian command posts, troop strongholds, and artillery positions around the Ta Moan Thom temple area.
To orchestrate the campaign, the RTAF relocated key fighter assets from Wing 1 in Korat—including F-16s from the 103 Squadron and 1 Wing, alongside F-16s from 4 Wing in Takhli—while 7 Wing deployed JAS39 Gripens and Saab 340 Erieye airborne early warning aircraft to the base. The 702 Squadron’s Erieye platforms operated continuously to maintain a unified aerial picture, managing airspace deconfliction in coordination with the Air Command and Control System at Wing 6 Don Mueang base in Bangkok. Meanwhile, the 21 Wing out of Ubon Ratchathani flew defensive counter-air missions using F-5TH and F-16 fighters to shield critical infrastructure.
Surveillance and targeting support relied heavily on the Sa Kaeo-based 3 Wing, which operated Aerostar BP and Dominator XP uncrewed aerial systems alongside 7 Wing’s Saab 340 electronic intelligence platform. The operations utilized a mix of unguided Mk. 82 and Mk. 84 high-explosive general-purpose bombs, precision-guided munitions like the Lizard-III and GBU-12, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, and South Korean KGGB glide-bombs deployed for standoff range.
Operation Sattawat Targets Cambodian Supply Routes and Depots
Following further movements of heavy equipment and combat forces into disputed areas, the Thai military launched a second major air campaign in December 2025. Entitled Operation Sattawat, the offensive aimed to destroy opposing combat support structures and strategic supply routes along the entire length of the shared border.
Expanding far beyond the localized strikes of July, the December campaign featured deep strike missions into Cambodian territory. On December 24, Thai fighter aircraft penetrated 100 kilometers deep into Battambang Province to destroy a weapons depot. Heavier fighting on December 18 and 19 saw increased sortie rates across Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, and Banteay Meanchey provinces.
The operations experienced minimal aircraft losses against Cambodian air defenses, which lacked fast-jet fighters and relied instead on limited surface-to-air assets such as Chinese-made KC-1 systems and QW-3 MANPADs. The Royal Thai Army lost a DP-20 UAV on December 17 for reasons that remain unknown, while an RTAF Aerostar BP UAV was shot down over Banteay Meanchey Province on December 21.
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